---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 3547"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "3547"
heading: "Special projects"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/3547"
units:
  - "Chapter 44 — Department of Housing and Urban Development"
---

# §3547. Special projects

- (1) **In general—**
  - (A) **Release of funds—** In order to assure that the policies of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 [[42 U.S.C. 4321](/usc/42/4321.md) et seq.] and other provisions of law which further the purposes of such Act (as specified in regulations issued by the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2)) are most effectively implemented in connection with the expenditure of funds for special [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) appropriated under an appropriations Act for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, such as special [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) under the head “Annual Contributions for Assisted Housing” in title II of the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent [Agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) Appropriations Act, 1993, and to assure to the public undiminished protection of the environment, the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of Housing and Urban Development may, under such regulations, in lieu of the environmental protection procedures otherwise applicable, provide for the release of funds for particular special [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) upon the request of recipients of special [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) assistance, if the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14), Indian Tribe, or [unit of general local government](/usc/42/11851.md?p=12), as designated by the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) in accordance with regulations, assumes all of the responsibilities for environmental review, decisionmaking, and action pursuant to such Act, and such other provisions of law as the regulations of the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) specify, that would otherwise apply to the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) were the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) to undertake such special [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) as Federal [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2).
  - (B) **Implementation—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall issue regulations to carry out this section only after consultation with the Council on Environmental Quality. Such regulations shall—
    - (i) provide for monitoring of the performance of environmental reviews under this section;
    - (ii) in the discretion of the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2), provide for the provision or facilitation of training for such performance; and
    - (iii) subject to the discretion of the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2), provide for suspension or termination by the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) of the assumption under [subparagraph (A)](#1-A).
  - (C) **Responsibilities of State, Indian Tribe, or unit of general local government—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2)’s duty under [subparagraph (B)](#1-B) shall not be construed to limit any responsibility assumed by a [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14), Indian Tribe, or [unit of general local government](/usc/42/11851.md?p=12) with respect to any particular release of funds under [subparagraph (A)](#1-A).
- (2) **Procedure—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) shall approve the release of funds for [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) subject to the procedures authorized by this section only if, not less than 15 days prior to such approval and prior to any commitment of funds to such [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2), the recipient submits to the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) a request for such release, accompanied by a certification of the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14), Indian Tribe, or [unit of general local government](/usc/42/11851.md?p=12) which meets the requirements of [paragraph (3)](#3). The [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2)’s approval of any such certification shall be deemed to satisfy the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2)’s responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 [[42 U.S.C. 4321](/usc/42/4321.md) et seq.] and such other provisions of law as the regulations of the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) specify insofar as those responsibilities relate to the releases of funds for special [projects](/usc/42/13641.md?p=2) to be carried out pursuant thereto which are covered by such certification.
- (3) **Certification—** A certification under the procedures authorized by this section shall—
  - (A) be in a form acceptable to the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2);
  - (B) be executed by the chief executive officer or other officer of the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14), Indian Tribe, or [unit of general local government](/usc/42/11851.md?p=12) who qualifies under regulations of the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2);
  - (C) specify that the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14), Indian Tribe, or [unit of general local government](/usc/42/11851.md?p=12) under this section has fully carried out its responsibilities as described under [paragraph (1)](#1); and
  - (D) specify that the certifying officer—
    - (i) consents to assume the status of a responsible Federal official under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 [[42 U.S.C. 4321](/usc/42/4321.md) et seq.] and each provision of law specified in regulations issued by the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) insofar as the provisions of such Act or other such provision of law apply pursuant to [paragraph (1)](#1); and
    - (ii) is authorized and consents on behalf of the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14), Indian Tribe, or [unit of general local government](/usc/42/11851.md?p=12) and himself or herself to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal courts for the purpose of enforcement of the responsibilities as such an official.
- (4) **Approval by States—** In cases in which a [unit of general local government](/usc/42/11851.md?p=12) carries out the responsibilities described in [paragraph (1)](#1), the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) may permit the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14) to perform those actions of the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2) described in [paragraph (2)](#2) and the performance of such actions by the [State](/usc/42/2021b.md?p=14), where permitted by the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2), shall be deemed to satisfy the [Secretary](/usc/42/242q–4.md?p=2)’s responsibilities referred to in the second sentence of [paragraph (2)](#2).
- (5) **Definition of Indian Tribe—** For purposes of this section, the term “Indian Tribe” means a federally recognized tribe, as defined in [section 4103(13)(B) of title 25](/usc/25/4103.md?p=13-B).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–233, title III, § 305(c), Apr. 11, 1994, 108 Stat. 372; Pub. L. 119–101, title II, § 205(b), July 11, 2026, 140 Stat. 870.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, referred to in pars. (1)(A), (2), and (3)(D)(i), is Pub. L. 91–190, Jan. 1, 1970, 83 Stat. 852, which is classified generally to chapter 55 (§ 4321 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 4321 of this title and Tables.

The Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1993, referred to in par. (1)(A), is Pub. L. 102–389, Oct. 6, 1992, 106 Stat. 1571. Provisions under the head “Annual Contributions for Assisted Housing” in title II of the Act appear at 106 Stat. 1582 and are not classified to the Code. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Multifamily Housing Property Disposition Reform Act of 1994, and not as part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Act which comprises this chapter.

### Amendments

2026—Pub. L. 119–101, § 205(b)(1), substituted “State, Indian Tribe, or unit of general local government” for “State or unit of general local government” wherever appearing.

Par. (1)(C). Pub. L. 119–101, § 205(b)(2), substituted “State, Indian tribe, or unit of general local government” for “State or unit of general local government” in heading.

Par. (5). Pub. L. 119–101, § 205(b)(3), added par. (5).